The folks over at
Proto87 have been branching out from HO scale to N scale, and thus have my interest. Many of their products are low interest to me, I mean I think tie plates look awesome but I'd go crazy trying to do more than a diorama with them in N scale. However one product is very interesting to me, their
cast frogs.
But I don't use their line, because while I could probably make a turnout without a FastTracks template it would like me 4 times as long and be 10 times as frustrating.
I keep coming back to that frog though. I really like the look of the "bulging" frog, when I think of prototype switches that's the look that pops into my head. Also, because the frog is one piece it would be faster to make a switch (no forming frog points, and the point rails become much simpler straight pieces), and
no more cutting isolation gaps! No more messing with a jewelers saw!
I imagine FastTracks making a one-piece frog that can be purchased, and redesigning the jig so it fits into a slot in the jig for soldering. Points and the rails leaving the frog would simply be shorter, and installed with a small gap between them and the cast frog.
I feel like this would speed up building FastTracks turnouts about 50% for me, while at the same time producing a better looking (and maybe even better operating) turnout.
I dunno if our hosts have ever considered it, but if you haven't please do, and if you decide to try it, I'm willing to be a beta tester.
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